Join CTU at the Buffalo Rose This Thursday for IF4!
Join Colorado Trout Unlimited at the Buffalo Rose in downtown Golden this Thursday, April 27th, at 7pm to watch the International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4).
1119 Washington Ave, Golden, CO 80401
For information about this screening, please contact the Buffalo Rose at information@buffalorose.net. For questions about IF4™ or the presentation email info@flyfilmfest.com.
Showtimes
6:00 pm Doors
7:00 pm Show
CTU will be present and selling show only raffle tickets that include a new Ross Greenback Native Series Reel, a guide trip for two from Golden River Sports, and more!
April 2023 Currents
THIS MONTH’S ISSUE OF CURRENTS FEATURES The Colorado Stream Restoration Bill, Troutfest Colorado, Great Rivers of the West Raffle, and More!
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we’re here to say thank you to all of our Trout Unlimited volunteers across Colorado.
April also kicks off a very busy volunteer season, and several opportunities are already available. See our list below, and don’t hesitate to contact us at info@coloradotu.org if you have any questions.
April & May Trout in the Classroom Release Events - throughout Colorado
Each release event is different and some need more volunteers than other. Please click the link to see the specific release event dates in your Chapter area and how you can help.
Volunteer Needed:
Help with release event, fish transportation, and logistics.
Help hosting interactive stations at release events.
April 21st - 22nd - Earth Day Celebration event at the Children’s Museum of Denver, Denver, CO
Volunteers Needed:
Macroinvertebrate Booth Help
April 22nd - STREAM Girls 2.0 event in Longmont, CO
Volunteers Needed:
Support Volunteer
Photographers
April 22nd - Willow cutting for Colorado River basin restoration near Hot Sulpher Springs, CO
April 22nd - Join Cutthroat Chapter and City of Lakewood Park to Plant Trees on Earth Day
April 22nd - Join Pikes Peak Chapter to Clean Up Eleven Mile Canyon.
May 2nd - TIC Release event at Waterton Canyon, Littleton, CO
Volunteers Needed:
Fly Casting
Photographers
June 3rd - STREAM Keepers event at Walking Mountain, Avon, CO
Volunteers Needed:
Macroinvertebrate Sampling
Fly Tying
Fly Casting
Photographer
July 8th - Troutfest Colorado - Volunteer signup coming soon. Write info@coloradotu.org for more information!
July 28th - STREAM Keepers event at Lincoln Hills Cares, Blackhawk, CO
August 1st - STREAM Keepers event at Confluence Park, Delta, CO
August 2nd - STREAM Keepers event at Delta Fairgrounds, Hotchkiss, CO
August 19th - STREAM Girls 1.0 event at Hubbard Cabin, Steamboat Springs, CO
Sept. 9th - STREAM Girls 1.0 event at Waterton Canyon, Littleton, CO
Sept. 10th - STREAM Girls 2.0 event at Lake Lehow, Littleton, CO
Sept. 16th - STREAM Girls 1.0 event at CSU Environmental Learning Center, Fort Collins, CO
Testimonials from Volunteers
“I know I volunteer because I love trout, trout habitat, and trout fishing. Of those three, I think it’s the habitat I love best, and not just because without it we can’t have the other two. It’s because I just love it, everything about it. I get a thrill every time I approach a trout stream.” -John Trammell
“With all that Trout Unlimited has done and is doing here in Colorado, it’s hard not to take an active role. Whether meeting an urgent need, preserving the livelihood of our precious waterways, or educating a new generation of students on how they can contribute, being a Trout Unlimited volunteer makes us feel good.” -David and Susan Person
“Yes, I am passionate about fishing and about saving our coldwater resources, but I am also passionate about the individuals I have met through my work with TU. On fishing trips, in chapter meetings, at youth camps – it doesn’t matter how I met these people. I see their passion and it inspires me to donate my time to TU.” “Yes, I am passionate about fishing and about saving our coldwater resources, but I am also passionate about the individuals I have met through my work with TU. On fishing trips, in chapter meetings, at youth camps – it doesn’t matter how I met these people. I see their passion and it inspires me to donate my time to TU.”- Sharon Lance
“There’s something special about a Colorado River. Crisp, clear water flowing from the majestic Rocky Mountains, sprouting aspen and willow trees from its banks, sustaining trout and deer, and quenching the thirst of literally millions of people along the way. I volunteer because I believe in protecting our rivers, Colorado’s most precious natural resource.” -Rick Matsumoto
Ask Your Senator to Support SB23-270 for Stream Restoration in Colorado - Take Action!
Healthy, functioning river corridors for fish and people need your help now.
Healthy rivers and watersheds provide broad-based benefits to all Coloradans – providing habitat for fish and wildlife; supporting our State’s robust recreation economy; improving wildfire resilience, drought mitigation, and flood safety; and promoting water quality for all those who rely on it from fish to farms to cities and towns statewide. But over the last 200 years, more than half of Colorado’s 105,000 stream miles and river corridors have been significantly degraded. That's why TU has been involved in restoration projects - from recovering front range streams damaged in the 2013 floods, to improving low-flow habitats in critical rivers like the Fraser, to reconnecting waters for trout at road crossings that currently fragment their habitat.
Such projects are now facing an uncertain future due to questions and inconsistencies on if and when such efforts may require water rights. Fortunately, the Colorado legislature is currently considering SB23-270: Projects to Restore Natural Stream Systems, a bill that clarifies where stream restoration could occur without water right enforcement actions. With the bipartisan infrastructure law offering major federal funding in the coming years, the bill also positions Colorado for once-in-a-generation opportunity to support watershed and river health through those federal dollars.
Without continued stream restoration, Colorado’s trout and their habitat will face an uncertain future. You can help by asking your Senator to support passage of SB23-270, enabling stream restoration projects to continue in Colorado and provide broad benefits to our environment and communities.
GoPro Mountain Games Introduce New Youth Activities
NEW IN 2023, the GoPro Mountain Games are putting an emphasis and opening categories for the youth by creating “grom” divisions for ages 12-18 in almost every event to create a more fair, competitive field for the next generation of Mountain Gamers.
One of these divisions is the Orvis 2 Fly X-Stream Casting Competition. Groups of 4+ are eligible for a 20% discount. If you are interested in registering a group contact punruh@vvf.org.
Troutfest Colorado - Saturday, July 8th!
Troutfest Colorado is set for July 8th, 2023 from 12pm to 6pm at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, and this year it’s FREE TO ATTEND!
Join Colorado Trout Unlimited along with partners and exhibitors to learn more about conservation, education, and fly fishing. Bring the entire family for a day at the ballpark to learn more about fly fishing, Colorado’s rivers, and have fun with interactive displays.
Coors Field will have full gameday concessions available along with stadium tours.
Features will include casting areas with instruction for all ages, fly tying professionals, presentations, a VIP area, and several youth activities.
After the event, CTU will present a showing of the International Fly Fishing Film Festival, which will be shown on the Coors Field jumbotron. This 8,400 square foot display with sound will be the largest IF4 showing in the world. Tickets for the film event are separate.
See you at the ballpark!
Great Rivers of the West Raffle
Help river conservation and get your chance to win four trips on four of the Rockies' great rivers: the Green, North Platte, Roaring Fork/Fryingpan, and the San Juan!
Drawing takes place at 12pm MT on Monday, May 1, at the Colorado TU offices at 1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 320, Denver. Need not be present to win.
Prize Package
One lucky winner will receive four full-day guided trips for two anglers on four of our region's top rivers, for use in the 2023 season, with advance reservations required. The winner and their guest will enjoy trips on each of these four great Rocky Mountain rivers:
Green River - Flaming Gorge. The Green River below Flaming Gorge is known as one of the west's finest tailwater fisheries. Two anglers will enjoy a full-day float on the Green below Flaming Gorge with Spinner Fall Guide Service, leading guides on the Green for more than 35 years. Your guide will work with you to help choose the reach (A, B, or C) that best fits your interests - but whichever section you float, you will be in for spectacular scenery and plenty of large and feisty trout!
North Platte River - Grey Reef or Fremont Canyon. Two anglers will enjoy winner's choice of a full-day float through the Grey Reef or a full-day walk-wade trip in Fremont Canyon with the guides from Thermopolis Fly Shop. The Grey Reef is known as one of the west's best rainbow trout fisheries with many 16-20 inch fish, including plenty in the 5-10 pound range. Fremont Canyon is a lesser known wade fishing gem with excellent dry fly fishing opportunities.
Roaring Fork - Fryingpan Rivers. The winner will get to choose from two of Colorado's most beloved Gold Medal waters for a full-day walk wade guide trip for two anglers with Roaring Fork Anglers. Whether experiencing the productive freestone Roaring Fork in the heart of one of Colorado's most scenic valleys - or the legendary tailwaters of the Fryingpan - or splitting your time to experience some of them both - you will be in for one of Colorado's great fishing experiences.
San Juan River. New Mexico's quality waters reach of the San Juan is one of the west's most loved tailwaters and offers excellent fishing opportunities throughout the year. The winner will get a full-day float trip on the San Juan with The San Juan Angler out of Durango. With incredible trout densities reported at 20,000 per mile and productive and varied insect life taking advantage of the tailwater's stable temperatures and flows, the San Juan's abundance and size of fish make it a great place to catch that fish of a lifetime.
The total prize package value for these four trips is $2,300.
Thank you to our supporters:
https://www.alpineangling.com/
Raffle Tickets
1 for $10
3 for $25
8 for $50
20 for $100
Online raffle ticket sales end April 30, 2023, at 12 pm MT.
The winner will be drawn on May 1, 2023, at 12 pm MT at 1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 320, Denver, CO 80202.
Trout Unlimited Western Regional Rendezvous
Join fellow TU members, supporters, and volunteers from across the West from May 18th-21st, 2023 at the Sagebrush Inn in Taos, NM for some great Spring fishing, networking opportunities, workshopping and presentations ranging from leadership development to regional habitat work.
Located in northern New Mexico at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Taos is an incredible melting pot of landscapes, cultures, and fishing opportunities. This is an amazing opportunity to join us for the weekend – and stay longer if you’d like to make this a family trip or fishing buddies escape!
Taos is within striking distance of some amazing trout fishing opportunities, and we hope to score some great Spring weather to make that a reality. Please reach out to local fly shops Doc’s High Country Anglers and Taos Fly Shop for more info on fishing the area.
TU regional rendezvous are occasions to be inspired – by the work of TU staff, lessons from volunteer leaders, and conversations with newfound friends. They are also an excellent opportunity to discuss the unique issues facing the region as well as a chance to network and build relationships with fellow TU volunteer leaders.
The Sagebrush Inn, Taos
Lodging & Registration
The Sagebrush Inn
Address: 1508 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, Taos, NM 87571
Ask for “Trout Unlimited” when reserving.
More info, including the agenda, can be found at tu.org/regionals.
The New Spring Issue of High Country Angler is Live!
Check out the Spring 2023 issue of High Country Angler e-zine, including these stories:
Landon Mayer on getting ready for a day on the river with Preparing for the Day;
Brian LaRue on the Big Hole River with 85 Miles of Magic;
John Davenport with eDNA Sampling Surprises Trout In The Classroom Students;
Joel Evans on Colorado's new Gold Medal waters on the Gunnison and Taylor rivers with Bringing Home the Gold;
Hayden Mellsop with You Don't Know What You're Missing;
Peter Stitcher with The Anatomy of a Euro Nymph
Columns by CTU Staff, Jack Bombardier, and the Old Professor!
Be sure to see information for Troutfest Colorado and the new Ross Native Series Reel!
